By Elishamai A. Ziumbwa
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has confirmed that the national senior men’s team, the Warriors, will play two international friendly matches in early June as part of their preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.
The Warriors will face Burkina Faso on June 6 and Niger on June 10 with both matches scheduled to take place in Morocco, ZIFA said in a statement released Tuesday.
“These matches present an important opportunity for [head coach] Michael Nees and his technical team to assess player readiness, test combinations, and build cohesion. Both Burkina Faso and Niger offer strong opposition, and these encounters will provide valuable competitive experience for our squad,” ZIFA said.
The friendlies are part of a broader strategy by ZIFA and the technical team to ensure the Warriors are match-fit and tactically sharp ahead of looming qualifiers and tournaments.
The association highlighted that regular high-level match exposure is essential for the team’s growth on the international stage.
The announcement comes as Zimbabwe looks to rebuild its football momentum after a period of transition and challenges including past suspensions from international competition.
“ZIFA, in collaboration with the technical team, remains committed to ensuring that the Warriors are well-prepared to represent the nation with pride and purpose,” the statement added.
The upcoming clashes with West African sides Burkina Faso and Niger are expected to feature a blend of home-based players and foreign-based professionals as Nees continues to shape a competitive unit ahead of World Cup qualifiers in September and the AFCON tournament in December.
